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East Fork Fire east of Montrose acting up

Firefighters are now protecting structures — instead of trying to contain the East Fork Fire east of Montrose, near Silver Jack Reservoir.

Officials said this morning that “attempts to confine the fire have been hindered by hazardous terrain” and that dry fuels and numerous spot fires.

The East Fork Fire was started by lightning on Saturday, June 15 about 13 miles northeast of Ridgway, and approximately three miles southeast of Silver Jack Reservoir. The fire currently covers 400 acres burning mostly a spruce/fir forest.

A Type 2 Incident Management Team is scheduled to assume command of the response teams on Monday, which is the type of team brought in when “(the fire) proves more complex than the local team has the resources to handle,” a release said.